Concerns are raised over rail overcrowding

Concerns have been raised over overcrowding on the Inverurie to Aberdeen ScotRail service

Published:07:01Thursday 18 June 2015

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Concerns have been raised about the standard of service on the busy ScotRail route between Inverurie and Aberdeen.

Passengers using the route have highlighted an increasing problem of overcrowding on the busy route, especially on the peak morning and evening service.

SNP MSP Christian Allard has written to the Managing Director of Abellio Scotrail calling for improvements to be made to address an “urgent situation” with peak time services between Aberdeen and Inverurie stations.

Commuters say that overcrowding on the service between Inverurie and Aberdeen is particularly bad up to Dyce Station, leading to concerns that users will not make their destination on time. There is also the concern for the health and safety of passengers.

Constituents brought to Mr Allard’s attention that the 08:19 service on Tuesday (June 16) from Aberdeen was reportedly so overcrowded that the driver called for some passengers to alight and wait for a later service as the conductor could not board the train.

Commenting, Mr Allard said, “This is an urgent situation that needs to be addressed. That is why I have written to the Managing Director of Abellio ScotRail to bring his attention to this issue, and offer my assistance wherever I can.

“These services are evidently in an unacceptable state. A large volume of people, travelling between the airport at and the centre of Aberdeen City, use these services during peak times.

“I understand that often only two carriages deliver some of the busiest train services of the day. This is clearly not enough.

“I look forward to a response from Mr Verster (Managing Director, ScotRail) so that we can work to improve peak time train services in the Aberdeen area.”

The Herald contacted ScotRail who said: “We will start enabling works this autumn for the £170 million Scottish Government-funded Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Programme, which will redouble the track between Aberdeen and Inverurie.

“The project will help us meet rising demand for rail travel on the route - and result in improved journey times and more seats for our customers.

“We appreciate that very busy trains can be uncomfortable, and continually review demand to help us balance the needs of customers across Scotland.”